🏈 Go, team! Get in on the playoff action with DraftKings Sportsbook. Use code KIM to get $200 in bonus bets when you bet just five bucks. Play online or download the DraftKings Sportsbook app for iPhone or Android. Let me know if you win!
How to watch the BIG GAME for free and more clever tips!
Oh, baby, it’s the day I’ve been waiting for all season! It’s time for … uh, Travis Kelce’s team and, well, those other guys to play. Kidding, kidding. I know it’s the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. I also know a bunch of tips and tricks to make your game day smoother.
Let’s start with where to watch
Still have cable? You’re all set. For my streaming pals, the game is broadcast on Fox, so you’re good to go with any streaming service that includes it. That’s Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.
Don’t use any of those? Hit this link for a free Tubi account. The others do free trials, too, but with Tubi, there’s no credit card required, so you won’t get charged after you forget to cancel. The pre-show starts at 3:30 p.m. EST and the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m.. EST.
📺 You might be tempted to change your TV’s picture mode to Game. Don’t. That’s for video games. The best setting for football is Cinema or Movie. Sports is generally too bright and makes the game look washed out.
No lag, please
If you can, connect your TV or streaming box directly to your router via an Ethernet cable. It’s more reliable than Wi-Fi, especially during peak times. You don’t want to hear the neighbors cheering when your connection craps out, trust me.
✋ Remind everyone in the house online gaming, video calls and streaming eat up bandwidth. Feeling techy? Set up a new guest network and punt the kids over to that.
No spoilers, either
Sports and news apps always fight to be the first to update you on the score and final result. You never know when you might end up a few seconds (or minutes) behind, and you don’t want your phone to spoil it.
On iPhone:
- Set a timer: Open your Notification Center by swiping up if your phone’s locked or down if it’s unlocked. Swipe left across the app’s icon and tap Options. Choose either Mute for 1 Hour or Mute for Today. Smart.
- Stay focused: Mute everything by switching on Focus mode. Head to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb. Scroll to Set a Schedule so it turns back on after the game.
Small-biz tech advice: How to make more money
I’ve run a broadcast business for over 25 years. I joke I’m an overnight success, but the truth is it took a long time to get here. In the beginning, it was like any new small biz, shoved into a small, crappy workspace with bills piling up.
Data brokers are cashing in, but you can stop them
Everyone wants your Social Security number. Some requests are legit, like when you’re starting a new job, applying for a loan or verifying your identity.
But countless others, from data brokers to scammers, are after your nine-digit code, too. In fact, an estimated 2,400 data brokers operate in the U.S., collecting and selling billions of personal records, often without your knowledge. Some even offer “credit header data,” which includes Social Security numbers, for as little as $5 per record.
Got a side hustle? Watch out for this tax change
Every morning, I sit down with my amazing executive producer, Madi, to plan what tech tidbits I’m going to bring you in my national radio shows, podcasts and this newsletter. Today, she came in with a doozy.
Her boyfriend got an email with a tax form he wasn’t expecting. Last year, he made about $20,000 on eBay selling comics, some bikes and a few other things. Like most folks getting a 1099‑K for the first time, he has no idea just how much he’ll owe yet.
Gamers in the house? Too many devices on the same network can slow things to a crawl, especially if some of those devices (looking at you, Nintendo Switch) use a lot of bandwidth. Try this: Put the kids on a guest network. Here’s how to set that up.
So much swiping: You’re deep down a webpage on your iPhone. Tap the clock in the top left or the battery at the top right to zoom all the way up. On most Android models, tap the very top of the screen.
⌨️ Shortcut bonanza because I know you love ‘em: On Windows, hit Windows key + L to lock your screen, Windows key + E to open File Explorer and Windows key + M to minimize all apps. The Mac equivalents: Cmd + Control + Q to lock your screen, Cmd + spacebar to open Spotlight Search and Cmd + Option + M to minimize your windows.
“Kim, how is EndpointLock different from a VPN?” A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your web activity. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes so no one can copy what you type. It’s a must for me. Hit this link for 10% off.
It’s not just apps on your phone: Websites ask for permissions, too, and you may have granted access to your webcam and microphone. To check in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, click the icon to the left of the address bar, near the refresh button. For Safari on a Mac, click the Safari menu > Settings for … Voila.
😵💫 Overwhelmed? AI can help when you have no idea where to start on a big project. Here’s a prompt to get you thinking: “I have a 50th birthday party to organize, and it’s happening in two months. I need to find a venue for 75 people and cater the event. What tasks do I need to do, and how should I organize my time?”
The coast is clear: If you were waiting while Apple ironed out the bugs, it’s now safe to download the new iPhone update, iOS 18.3. Reader Cara T., who just asked, there you go!
Get paid to blab: Don’t Google “paid surveys,” or you’ll end up on junk sites. User Interviews is legit. You may have to apply for several before you get approved, but they pay well. A Komando staffer made $40 for a 10-minute call. The downside? They pay in gift cards. At least Amazon and Visa are both options.
💡 Technical difficulties: Some of you couldn’t access my free e-book, “50 Smart Ways to Use AI.” We hit the server with a wrench and all is well now! Pro tip: If you’re still getting a 404 error, try in a different browser or an Incognito mode tab.
TikTok is addictive for a reason: It’s the algorithm, but the format helps, too. If you want something a little smarter than mindrot videos, try WikiTok. It’s a visual way to browse random articles. Hey, that’s how I just learned there’s an Amsterdam, New Jersey.
Hearing loss happens in phases: With mild hearing loss, whispers and soft sounds fade away. Busy places like restaurants make keeping up with conversations tough. When it progresses to moderate, subtle sounds like ticking clocks or birds are hard to hear. With moderately severe, voices sound muffled. If you or someone you love is dealing with anything beyond mild hearing loss, let me introduce you to the Horizon IX hearing aids.
Have an iPhone? Store for-your-eyes-only pics in the Notes app. Open the pic in the Photos app, tap the share icon and select Notes. Open the note you want to protect, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right, then choose Lock.
👁️📢 No snooping: If you have sensitive pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.
“Make me a template”: Try this with your AI chatbot of choice. I use ChatGPT. Instead of starting a report, spreadsheet or agenda from scratch, ask AI to create a template you can use again and again. Bonus: Your boss will think you have it all together when your monthly report always comes in a nice, tidy package.
📚 Turn “da-da” into data: Get your kiddo ready for the future (and AI) with these 30 free STEM resources. The list includes apps, games and classes to teach youngsters stuff like coding, aeronautics, mathematics and, yes, data science. You could have the next little Elon.